AP Government Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of 150 vocabulary flashcards for AP Government, covering essential terms and definitions related to the course.

Power

The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others.

Legitimacy

Being accepted as an authority, often applied to laws or those in power.

Authority

Legal right to give orders and enforce rules.

Government

The institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces binding decisions on citizens.

Population

A characteristic of a state that refers to the people who live in it.

Territory

A characteristic of a state that refers to the defined geographic area it controls.

Sovereignty

The ultimate authority in decision-making and maintaining order of a state.

Purposes of Government

To provide social order, national security, public services, and make economic decisions.

Unitary System

Political structure with only one group in power.

Confederate System

Power is concentrated in political subunits with a weak central government.

Federal System

Powers are divided and/or shared between state and central governments.

Direct Democracy

A system where people govern themselves by voting on issues individually.

Indirect Democracy

A system where people elect representatives to make laws and conduct government.

Authoritarian Government

A government in which one leader or group of people holds absolute power.

Totalitarianism

A government system where the government is in complete control of citizens' lives.

Absolute Monarchy

A political system where a single ruler inherits their position and holds complete power.

Dictatorship

A form of government wherein a single leader holds extraordinary power not based on heredity.

Oligarchy

A government system where a group of people rule to serve their own interests.

Communism

A political and economic system where class distinctions disappear, and everyone contributes to the common good.

Theocracy

A system of government controlled by divine authority, based on religion.

Political Culture

Shared values concerning political and economic life in a country.

Republicanism

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives through free elections.

Political Efficacy

The ability or belief that one's participation can influence government decisions.

Political Tolerance

The acceptance of differing views or actions of others.

Political Spectrum

The range of political positions or opinions from progressive left wing to conservative right wing.

Reactionary

A political ideology that seeks to return to a previous state or system.

Conservative

A political ideology that favors tradition and is cautious about change.

Radical

A political ideology that calls for wide-sweeping, rapid change in the political or social system.

Moderate

A political viewpoint that includes elements of both liberalism and conservatism.

Liberal

A political ideology that advocates government involvement in social welfare and progressive reforms.

Libertarian

A political philosophy that emphasizes individual freedom and minimal government intervention.

Civil Rights

The rights of individuals to receive equal treatment under the law.

Civil Liberties

Personal freedoms that the government cannot abridge, such as speech and privacy.

Supremacy Clause

The clause in the U.S. Constitution establishing that federal laws take precedence over state laws.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to determine the constitutionality of laws.

Separation of Powers

A principle under which the powers of government are divided among separate branches.

Checks and Balances

The system that ensures no one branch of government becomes too powerful.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that guarantee individual liberties.

Majority Rule

The principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.

Amendment

A formal change or addition proposed to the Constitution.

Electoral College

The body of electors established by the Constitution to elect the President and Vice President.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in elections.

Incumbency,

The current holder of an office or position.

Majority-minority Districts

Electoral districts in which the majority of the constituents belong to a racial or ethnic minority.

Franking Privilege

The privilege of sending mail without having to pay postage.

Civic Duty

The responsibility of citizens to participate in civic and political affairs.

Campaign Finance

The fundraising process for political campaigns, including limits and regulations.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that collects donations to support political candidates.

Soft Money

Contributions to political parties that are not regulated by federal law.

Hard Money

Donations that are limited and regulated by federal laws.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

A law that regulates the financing of political campaigns.

Citizens United v. FEC

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that corporations have the right to free speech, including spending money on political campaigns.

National Voter Registration Act

A law that requires states to offer voter registration at the same time as a driver's license application.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A significant piece of federal legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting.

Mandates

Laws or regulations that require certain actions by state or local governments.

Unfunded Mandates

Regulations or statutes imposed by the federal government without providing adequate funding to meet the requirements.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

Voter ID Laws

Laws that require voters to provide specific identification to vote.

Polling Methodology

The techniques used to conduct interviews and gather polling data.

Push Polling

Polling designed to sway voters by presenting loaded questions.

Exit Polls

Surveys of voters taken after they vote to predict the outcome of an election.

Gallup Polls

A well-known polling organization that measures public opinion.

Straw Polls

Non-scientific surveys used to gauge public opinion.

Scientific Polling

Polls conducted using statistical methods to ensure representativeness.

Response Bias

When survey respondents give inaccurate or false answers to questions.

Narrowcasting

Media programming on a specific topic aimed at a specific audience.

Permissible Polling Techniques

Methods of polling that adhere to ethical standards and guidelines.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Electorate

All the qualified voters in a given area.

Majority Vote

A voting requirement where a candidate must receive more than half of the votes.

Electoral Votes

Votes cast by electors in the Electoral College.

Direct Election

An electoral system where voters directly select their representatives.

Indirect Election

A system where representatives are elected by an intermediary body.

Caucus

A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide policy.

Primary Election

An election where members of a political party nominate candidates for the general election.

General Election

The election in which voters select their preferred candidates from those nominated.

Political Parties

Organized groups that seek to gain power through elections.

Interest Groups

Organizations that seek to influence government policy.

Watchdog Journalism

Investigative journalism that seeks to expose corruption and wrongdoing.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about politics and government.

Lobbying

The act of attempting to influence government officials in decision-making.

Media Bias

The perceived or actual partiality of journalists and news producers.

Pew Research Center

A non-partisan American think tank that provides information on social issues.

Public Opinion

The collective preferences and attitudes of citizens concerning issues.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political beliefs.

Civic Engagement

Active participation in the political process.

Demographics

Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

Constituents

People represented by an elected official.

Political Accountability

The responsibility of government officials to act in the best interest of the public.

Stare Decisis

The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.

Judicial Activism

Judges should use their power to promote social change.

Judicial Restraint

Judges should limit their power to decide cases based on precedent.

Electoral Reform

Changes to electoral systems aimed at improving democracy.

Civic Knowledge

Understanding of political processes and government functions.

Political Corruption

The abuse of power by government officials for illegitimate private gain.

Interest Group Pluralism

The theory that multiple, diverse interest groups compete for influence.

Net Neutrality

The principle that Internet service providers must treat all data equally.

Social Media Activism

Using social media platforms to promote political causes and engage in activism.

Partisan Politics

Political decisions that benefit one party over another.